Flora in bloom at RHS Wisley

15/06/2016

Flora, the STIHL sponsored cow has joined the parade by making a floral statement at RHS Wisley. Of all the cows unveiled so far she is the most unique as she has been cleverly nestled amongst the flowers in a specially created planter.

CowParade, is the world’s largest public art event which has arrived in Surrey for the summer. This exciting exhibition sees full-size fibreglass cows sponsored by businesses, decorated by artists and auctioned off to raise lots of mooolaa for charities!!

STIHL, well established in engineering and the world’s leading chainsaw brand with an 85-plus year history commissioned artists Bella Trowbridge and Abi Charge-Thornton to create ‘Flora’. Bella Trowbridge comments; “We were delighted to be chosen to create ‘Flora’, the inspiration behind her design focuses on summer planting and the ‘grow your own’ message. The flowers we chose to use were Roses, Cosmos and Geum, all inspired by the displays currently on display at RHS Wisley”.
Simon Hewitt, Head of Marketing at STIHL GB says, “The team at STIHL are thrilled to have sponsored a cow in the Surrey Hills CowParade. We were lucky enough to partner with the renowned RHS Garden Wisley where our impressive cow, designed and painted by an artist from the RHS Garden Wisley team, is being enjoyed by visitors as they pass through the front gates. As a local business it is important for us to support our community, giving back to the people that support us. We are delighted to be partnering with RHS Garden Wisley as our chosen charity for the CowParade auction and look forward to seeing the exciting exhibition unfold over the next few months.”

Proceeds generated from Flora at the Cow Parade auction will go towards the Royal Horticultural Society a UK based charity established to share the best in gardening. They aim to enrich everyone’s lives through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.

Stephanie Fudge, Head of Site at RHS Garden Wisley says: “We are very happy to have welcomed such a very special guest to Wisley. Cow Parade has raised a huge amount of money for charitable organisations over the years and we are thrilled to have Flora with us this summer. Let’s just hope she doesn’t eat any of our heritage plant collections!”

The cows are now gradually going out to graze around Surrey and will be on display until the end of August for all to see. A specially designed app, created by digital design agency Akiko Design, is free to download from cowparadesurreyhills.com and will allow you to ‘check in’ to each cow as it’s found. You’ll discover lots about each cow, be able to win rosettes, take part in quizzes and more. Those who find the most cows will be entered into a prize draw to win a luxury Kuoni holiday for two to Mauritius!

The autumn will see the cows auctioned off for charity. Each cow sponsor gets to choose a charity of their own to benefit from half of the auction proceeds, with the other 50 per cent going to the Surrey Hills Trust Fund, established in partnership with the Community Foundation for Surrey to conserve and protect the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The fund supports local community projects and enterprise schemes that benefit and enhance the Surrey Hills.

Tim Metson, Cow Parade Leader, said: “We’re delighted that STIHL have teamed up with RHS Wisley to support CowParade Surrey. Flora is a real spectacle and I urge everyone to go and find her. She’s definitely one to watch at the auction, I can see her blending in beautifully in someone’s garden!”.